The Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration offers a program in graduate study leading to the Master of Science degree. Advanced course work is available in recreation administration and programming, park planning and management, outdoor/adventure recreation, therapeutic recreation, college leisure services programming, tourism, resort recreation, and youth services programming.

The Master of Science program with a major in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration prepares persons to assume major responsibilities for delivery of leisure services. An individualized curriculum approach is utilized to help each student develop problem-solving and integrative thinking skills through core competencies deemed necessary for all graduates and career competencies relating to individual goals.

The program will: a) enlarge the student's concepts of the role and significance that leisure plays in promoting the quality of life for all Americans; b) help each student develop an understanding and appreciation of the purpose and function of research as it relates to the planning, programming, and administration of leisure services; c) encourage each student to develop higher level academic and practical skills to be able to plan, program, and manage leisure services more efficiently and effectively; and d) assist students in their quest to become more proficient and effective professionals in their career interests.

Students who qualify may be assigned to staff positions with local agencies as departmental graduate assistants. Present assignments facilitate interests in student services, outdoor recreation and education, recreation administration and programming, therapeutic recreation, tourism, and research. Approximately twenty‑five students receive graduate assistantships during the academic year.

Admission Requirements

To complete application, the following is required by the department:

Current résumé;

Responses to five questions in essay form (supplied by department);

Three letters of reference;

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for regular admission to the graduate program in recreation, park, and tourism administration; however, those students entering under probationary status are encouraged to take the General Test of the GRE and have their scores on file before enrollment.

Degree Requirements

The program requires a minimum of 34 semester hours including a minimum six semester hour culmination option.

422G Advanced Administration of Leisure Services. (3) Investigates advanced concepts and processes related to the administration of leisure services, including marketing applications and the management of human resources. Prerequisite: RPTA 322 or permission of the instructor.

424G Fund Raising and Volunteerism in Leisure Services. (3) A study of the principles and practices associated with fund raising and utilization of volunteers in public as well as private nonprofit leisure service organizations. Prerequisite: RPTA 322 or permission of instructor.

428G Youth and Leisure Services. (3) A study of the theories, principles, and practices related to youth and leisure, including social trends and issues, youth development, youth services agencies, program planning and evaluation, behavior management, leadership, and public relations. Field Project. Prerequisites: RPTA 230 and RPTA 332 or permission of the instructor.

448G Interpretation of Cultural and Environmental Resources. (3) Develops a basic understanding for interpretation of natural, environmental and cultural resources. Includes philosophy and techniques. Field trip. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

449G Management of Outdoor Adventure Recreation. (3) Management of outdoor adventure recreation in both intensity and wilderness/dispersed recreation environments is examined. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

450G Traveling Workshop. (1–3) Opportunity for students to observe the operations of a variety of leisure service agencies and to discuss on location the trends, problems, and techniques in leisure service delivery. Lab cost. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

451G Principles of Therapeutic Recreation. (3) Principles of program planning for people with disabilities in clinical, residential, and community-based settings. Prerequisites: RPTA 251 and permission of the instructor.

452G Leisure Services for the Elderly. (3) Examines theories and concepts related to leisure and aging; includes field experiences with the elderly. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

460G Community Tourism Development. (3) Provides essentials for successful development of a local tourism economy including organizing, planning, developing, and operation. Prerequisite: RPTA 362 or permission of the instructor.

461G Conference and Convention Planning and Management. (3) Prepares students for positions as planners and managers of conferences and conventions at resorts, hotels, cruise ships, camps, universities, or other private or municipal convention centers. Graduate students will be expected to plan and carry out a conference. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

464G Group Tour Planning and Management. (3) Examines the history, structure, and mechanics of creating and selling packaged tours and the role of the group tour designer in an expanding travel and tourism industry. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

465G Tourism Destination Promotion. (3) A comprehensive study of the funcitons of community tourism promotion. Examines management strategies and methods to fund and operate a promotional agency and fulfill responsibilities to community, local service providers, and potential visitors. Prerequisite: RPTA 362.

466G Resort Management. (3) Principles and practices to plan, develop, manage and operate resort properties, with emphasis on leisure‑based facilities and services. Prerequisite: RPTA 362 or permission of the instructor.

467G Special Event Planning and Management. (3) The application of methods and techniques to plan, implement and evaluate successful community special events. Content includes selection of event themes and coordination of set up, staff, finance, promotion, partnerships, operations and evaluation. Prerequisite: RPTA 332.

483G Trail and Landscape Construction. (3) Includes field layout and construction methods for outdoor recreation facilities (trails, boat ramps, campsites, etc.). Stresses site analysis, measurement, landscape suitabilities/limitations and construction requirements. Real park development projects used as labs. Lab fee for field trips and materials. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

488G Park Open Space Planning. (3) Investigates theory, principles, and methods of planning recreation land systems. Explores procedures to preserve, acquire, and develop recreation lands and green space throughout a district or urban area. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

490G Independent Study. (1–3, repeatable to 8) Research projects or independent study not covered in other courses. Credit assigned according to the nature and scope of project. Prerequisite: Written description of proposal including justification, objectives, and procedures must be submitted to the department chairperson prior to enrollment; permission of the department chairperson required.

511 Measurement and Statistical Analysis. (3) Statistics and experimental designs that are necessary to evaluate data collected from measurement commonly obtained in recreation and park administration.

515 Philosophy of Leisure. (3) Examination of professional ethics in leisure service delivery based upon exploration of classical and contemporary thought.

526 Fiscal Management in Leisure Services. (3) This course examines the fiscal process in leisure service organizations, analyzes revenue production and expenditure alternatives, and identifies internal and external control mechanisms.

530 Program Development and Supervision. (3) A seminar in the administration and management of leisure programs in a variety of agency and organizational settings. Techniques in needs assessment; as well as development, implementation, and evaluation of leisure programs are studied.

580 (cross-listed with ECON 580, GEOG 580, CH 580 and POLS 580)Skills in Community Development. (3) This course emphasizes the practical skills required to be an effective community developer, including conflict resolution, leadership, comunication, and community capacity-building. The focus is on skill-building, as students are provided opportunities to practice new techniques. Topics will be modified as new technologies and other external factors impact the practice of community development. Graded S/U.

590 Research in Leisure Services. (1–3, repeatable)

599 Research Methods in Leisure Services. (3) Research methods used in scholarly studies to solve problems common to recreation and park and tourism administration.

603 Professional Internship. (6) Direct assignment on a three‑month to 12‑month basis to a leisure services agency or organization under the specific direction of a qualified agency administrator and supervision of a recreation faculty member. Involvements focus on practical and uniquely necessary competencies best developed in the work setting. Prerequisite: Graduate Committee approval.